For the first twelve hours in his new life, Raj did nothing. He explored the penthouse with the wide-eyed wonder of a boy and the meticulous curiosity of a scientist. He tested his new strength by effortlessly rearranging a heavy marble coffee table. He used hisAbsolute Comprehensionto master the complex smart-home system in minutes, turning the entire penthouse into an extension of his will. He stood under a rainfall shower for an hour, simply because he could, washing away the grime and the memories of the storeroom.
This wasn't just a home; it was a fortress. His base of operations.
As the next check-in time approached, he sat on a plush leather sofa overlooking the glittering expanse of Mumbai. He was no longer just waiting for a reward; he was planning for it.
The familiar blue screen flickered into existence. He was ready.
[ Daily Check-in Complete. ]
[ Reward Received: ₹10,00,000 (Ten Lakh Indian Rupees) ]
[ Bonus Reward: 5% Ownership Stake in 'Titan Security Services' ]
[ New Skill Unlocked: Eye of Scrutiny ]
Raj's eyes narrowed. Ten Lakhs was a significant sum, but the other two rewards were far more interesting. A new screen detailed his skill.
[ Skill: Eye of Scrutiny (Active) - Allows the host to see a target's basic public information, current emotional state, and immediate intentions towards the host. ]
A smile touched Raj's lips. A tool to see through lies. A weapon for a world of betrayal.
He immediately turned his attention to the second reward. 'Titan Security Services'. Using his phone, a flurry of searches conducted at impossible speed revealed everything. Titan was a mid-sized, highly respected private security firm in Mumbai. More importantly, his research uncovered a crucial fact: one of his father's primary business rivals had been attempting a hostile takeover of Titan for the past six months.
The system hadn't just given him a random asset. It had given him a chess piece in a game he was destined to win.
But a 5% stake wasn't enough. He needed more. And as a fifteen-year-old, he couldn't walk into a boardroom. He needed a proxy. An agent.
His fingers danced across the screen, his mind processing information at a blinding rate. He filtered through dozens of financial consultants in Mumbai, discarding the successful and arrogant. He was looking for someone skilled, but desperate. Someone hungry.
He found him in less than ten minutes: Vikram Singh, a brilliant financial analyst who had been fired from a major firm for whistleblowing on his corrupt boss. Now, he was a freelancer, struggling for clients.
Raj set up an untraceable, encrypted video call. A man in his late thirties, with tired eyes but a sharp suit, appeared on the screen. Raj kept his own camera off, using a voice modulator to sound like an adult.
As he looked at the man on the screen, Raj activated his new skill.
[ Name: Vikram Singh ]
[ Emotional State: Anxious, Hopeful ]
[ Intention towards Host: Secure a contract, prove his worth. ]
Perfect.
"Mr. Singh," Raj's modulated voice began, "I have a simple proposition. I will provide the capital. You will execute my instructions without question. Your commission will be generous."
Vikram, startled by the directness, stammered, "Of course, sir. May I ask what the investment will be?"
"Titan Security Services," Raj said. "I am transferring ten lakh rupees to you now. Use it to acquire as many shares on the open market as possible. Be discreet. I will provide further instructions shortly."
Vikram's eyes widened. "Titan? Sir, that's a volatile stock right now. There's a corporate battle happening..."
"I am aware," Raj interrupted, his voice cold and commanding. "That is precisely why we are entering the field."
The authority in the voice, combined with the instant transfer of funds that pinged into Vikram's account, left the seasoned analyst speechless. He could only nod. "Yes, sir. I'll get on it immediately."
The call ended. Raj leaned back, the city lights reflecting in his eyes. He had hired his first employee. He had made his first strategic move. His parents, living in their bubble of blissful ignorance hundreds of kilometers away, had no idea that a war had just been declared on their empire.
He pulled up a digital map of his father's company holdings on a massive screen in his living room. A web of companies involved in jewelry, cars, and land. He zoomed in on their headquarters.
The first stone had been laid. Soon, he would start building walls around them until they had nowhere left to run.